No. XVII Squadron RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 17 Squadron is an active squadron
of the Royal Air Force
and the Operational Evaluation Unit for the Typhoon T.1 and F.2.
in February 1915 at Gosport. It served in the Middle East. It claimed 26 aerial victories, and had two flying aces, future Air Marshal
Sir Gerald Gibbs (RAF officer)
and Gilbert W. M. Green
, within its ranks. After the war No. 691 Squadron RAF
was renumbered as No. 17 Squadron.
In recent history the squadron has played a major part in the RAF forces in Germany operating Canberras
, Phantoms
, Jaguars
and the Tornado
.
No.17 Squadron re-equipped with twelve Jaguar aircraft, and assigned to SACEUR were declared operational at RAF Bruggen
with conventional weapons and the British WE.177
nuclear weapon from 1976 to 1984. Their role was in support of land forces in a high-intensity European war using conventional weapons initially, and tactical nuclear weapons if a conflict escalated. Some aircraft were to be held back in reserve from the conventional phase to ensure that sufficient aircraft survived the conventional phase to deliver the squadron's full stock of eight nuclear weapons.
In 1984–85 the squadron re-equipped with twelve Tornado GR1
aircraft and eighteen WE.177
nuclear bombs, and although the squadron's role remained unchanged, their Tornado aircraft were each able to carry two WE.177 bombs, and the ratio of weapons to aircraft at full strength increased to 1.5 : 1.
In 1990 - 1991 it played a significant role in the Gulf war when it was stationed at Al Muharraq Airbase in Bahrain. It had 12 GR1 Tornado Aircraft split between three Flight Lines (Snoopy AirWays, Triffid Airways & Gulf Airways). Whilst there it also hosted "The Gulf at Christmas" - A special morale boosting Christmas Service from the Snoopy Airways flight Line.
The squadron continued in this role until the WE.177 weapons were retired, and No. 17 Squadron relinquished its nuclear delivery capability at RAF Bruggen
.
The squadron temporarily disbanded in 2002.
in Lincolnshire
to operate the Typhoon T.1 and F.2
. It is the Operational Evaluation Unit for the type and is called the Typhoon Operational Evaluation Unit (TOEU).
On initial entry to RAF service the squadron was reformed "as a Reserve Squadron" on 1 September 2002 at BAE Systems
' Warton airfield where a special facility had been constructed. The Squadron relocated to RAF Coningsby
on 1 April 2005 and was officially re-formed at its new base on 19 May 2005. No. XVII(R) Squadron was joined at RAF Coningsby
on 1 July 2005 by No. 29 Squadron, thus bringing to the end the Typhoon's "Case White" entry into service programme. An initial operational capability is expected to be established in 2007 by No. 3 Squadron
.
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
of the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
and the Operational Evaluation Unit for the Typhoon T.1 and F.2.
History
The first No. 17 Squadron was formed in the Royal Flying CorpsRoyal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
in February 1915 at Gosport. It served in the Middle East. It claimed 26 aerial victories, and had two flying aces, future Air Marshal
Air Marshal
Air marshal is a three-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Sir Gerald Gibbs (RAF officer)
Gerald Gibbs (RAF officer)
Air Marshal Sir Gerald Ernest Gibbs KBE, CIE, MC & Two Bars, RAF was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force in the first half of the 20th century and the last RAF commander-in-chief of the Indian Air Force. During World War I he scored 10 victories , becoming a double ace...
and Gilbert W. M. Green
Gilbert W. M. Green
Group Captain Gilbert Ware Murlis Green DSO* MC** was a Royal Air Force career officer credited with eight aerial victories. He was a pioneer among fighter aces, and his victories were scored in a variety of theaters and flying environments. He was successful on both the Western Front, in Greece,...
, within its ranks. After the war No. 691 Squadron RAF
No. 691 Squadron RAF
No. 691 Squadron RAF was a Anti-aircraft cooperation squadron of the Royal Air Force from 1943 to 1949.-History:The squadron was formed on 1 December 1943 at RNAS Roborough from 1623 Flight. It was tasked with anti-aircraft co-operation duties in the Plymouth area operating a variety of aircraft...
was renumbered as No. 17 Squadron.
In recent history the squadron has played a major part in the RAF forces in Germany operating Canberras
English Electric Canberra
The English Electric Canberra is a first-generation jet-powered light bomber manufactured in large numbers through the 1950s. The Canberra could fly at a higher altitude than any other bomber through the 1950s and set a world altitude record of 70,310 ft in 1957...
, Phantoms
F-4 Phantom II
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable,...
, Jaguars
SEPECAT Jaguar
The SEPECAT Jaguar is an Anglo-French jet ground attack aircraft, originally used by the British Royal Air Force and the French Armée de l'Air in the close air support and nuclear strike role, and still in service with several export customers, notably the Indian Air Force and the Royal Air Force...
and the Tornado
Panavia Tornado
The Panavia Tornado is a family of twin-engine, variable-sweep wing combat aircraft, which was jointly developed and manufactured by the United Kingdom, West Germany and Italy...
.
No.17 Squadron re-equipped with twelve Jaguar aircraft, and assigned to SACEUR were declared operational at RAF Bruggen
RAF Bruggen
The former Royal Air Force Station Brüggen, more commonly known as RAF Brüggen, in Germany was a major station of the Royal Air Force until 15 June 2001. It was situated next to the village of Elmpt, approximately west of Düsseldorf near the German-Netherlands border. The base was named after...
with conventional weapons and the British WE.177
WE.177
WE.177 was the last air-delivered tactical nuclear weapon of the British Armed Forces. There were three versions; WE.177A was a boosted fission weapon, while WE.177B and WE.177C were thermonuclear weapons...
nuclear weapon from 1976 to 1984. Their role was in support of land forces in a high-intensity European war using conventional weapons initially, and tactical nuclear weapons if a conflict escalated. Some aircraft were to be held back in reserve from the conventional phase to ensure that sufficient aircraft survived the conventional phase to deliver the squadron's full stock of eight nuclear weapons.
In 1984–85 the squadron re-equipped with twelve Tornado GR1
Panavia Tornado
The Panavia Tornado is a family of twin-engine, variable-sweep wing combat aircraft, which was jointly developed and manufactured by the United Kingdom, West Germany and Italy...
aircraft and eighteen WE.177
WE.177
WE.177 was the last air-delivered tactical nuclear weapon of the British Armed Forces. There were three versions; WE.177A was a boosted fission weapon, while WE.177B and WE.177C were thermonuclear weapons...
nuclear bombs, and although the squadron's role remained unchanged, their Tornado aircraft were each able to carry two WE.177 bombs, and the ratio of weapons to aircraft at full strength increased to 1.5 : 1.
In 1990 - 1991 it played a significant role in the Gulf war when it was stationed at Al Muharraq Airbase in Bahrain. It had 12 GR1 Tornado Aircraft split between three Flight Lines (Snoopy AirWays, Triffid Airways & Gulf Airways). Whilst there it also hosted "The Gulf at Christmas" - A special morale boosting Christmas Service from the Snoopy Airways flight Line.
The squadron continued in this role until the WE.177 weapons were retired, and No. 17 Squadron relinquished its nuclear delivery capability at RAF Bruggen
RAF Bruggen
The former Royal Air Force Station Brüggen, more commonly known as RAF Brüggen, in Germany was a major station of the Royal Air Force until 15 June 2001. It was situated next to the village of Elmpt, approximately west of Düsseldorf near the German-Netherlands border. The base was named after...
.
The squadron temporarily disbanded in 2002.
Current role
As "No. XVII (Reserve) Squadron" it was reformed on 1 April 2005 at RAF ConingsbyRAF Coningsby
RAF Coningsby , is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England. It has been commanded by Group Captain Martin Sampson since 10 December 2010.-Operational units:...
in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
to operate the Typhoon T.1 and F.2
Eurofighter Typhoon
The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine, canard-delta wing, multirole combat aircraft, designed and built by a consortium of three companies: EADS, Alenia Aeronautica and BAE Systems; working through a holding company, Eurofighter GmbH, which was formed in 1986...
. It is the Operational Evaluation Unit for the type and is called the Typhoon Operational Evaluation Unit (TOEU).
On initial entry to RAF service the squadron was reformed "as a Reserve Squadron" on 1 September 2002 at BAE Systems
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
' Warton airfield where a special facility had been constructed. The Squadron relocated to RAF Coningsby
RAF Coningsby
RAF Coningsby , is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England. It has been commanded by Group Captain Martin Sampson since 10 December 2010.-Operational units:...
on 1 April 2005 and was officially re-formed at its new base on 19 May 2005. No. XVII(R) Squadron was joined at RAF Coningsby
RAF Coningsby
RAF Coningsby , is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England. It has been commanded by Group Captain Martin Sampson since 10 December 2010.-Operational units:...
on 1 July 2005 by No. 29 Squadron, thus bringing to the end the Typhoon's "Case White" entry into service programme. An initial operational capability is expected to be established in 2007 by No. 3 Squadron
No. 3 Squadron RAF
No 3 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Typhoon F2, FGR4 and T3 from RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire.No 3 Squadron, which celebrated its 95th anniversary over the weekend of 11-13 May 2007, is unique in the RAF for having two official crests....
.
See also
External links